Reversing switch

ABSTRACT

A reversing switch for mounting in an electrically powered tool, utensil or other motor driven device for selectively reversing the direction of rotation of an electric motor, such as for instance, a universal type motor. The switch comprises a compact switch body comprising a relatively stationary segment and a rotary segment with the stationary segment having a plurality of stationary contacts mounted thereon and the rotary segment having a plurality of contacts mounted thereon for rotation with the rotary segment, with the rotary segment being selectively movable into several operable positions, wherein in one of the positions of the rotary segment, the motor is driven in the reverse direction. The stationary segment is formed of an assembled lower sector and upper sector, each sector mounting a plurality of stationary contacts, said stationary contacts disposed in a common generally horizontal plane in the assembled condition.

United States Patent Matthews 1541 REVERSING SWITCH [72] Inventor:Benjamin 1!. Matthews, Peninsula,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: Lucerne Products, Inc.,

Northfield, Ohio [22] Filed: Jan. 28, 1971 [21] App1.No.: 110,515

[52] US. Cl. ..200/1 V, 200/155 R, 200/157 [51] Int. Cl. ..H0lh 21/10,I-I0lh 21/66 [58] Field of Search ..200/1 V, 155 R, 157, 11.],

200/11 K, 166 BF,166BE,11R, 156,166

SD; 339/95 D [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,696,74412/1928 Wyman ..200/155 R X 1,919,345 7/1933 Sinner ..200/11 K 3,059,49810/1962 Boyd ..200/166 SD UX 3,165,614 l/l965 Carissim et al ..339/95 DX 3,585,331 6/1971 Bednarski ..200/157 3,467,801 9/1969 Matthews ..200/1UX 1,361,937 12/1920 Wagner et al ..200/1 U 3,484,632 12/1969 Opaleniket al ..200/157 X 3,138,421 6/1964 Locher et al ..339/95 D X 1 Sept. 12,1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 868,308 5/1961 Great Britain..200/156 Primary Examiner-David Smith, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Robert A.Vanderhye Attorney-Baldwin, Egan, Walling & Fetzer [5 7] ABSTRACT Areversing switch for mounting in an electrically powered tool, utensilor other motor driven device for selectively reversing the direction ofrotation of an electric motor, such as for instance, a universal typemotor. The switch comprises a compact switch body comprising arelatively stationary segment and a rotary segment with the stationarysegment having a plurality of stationary contacts mounted thereon andthe rotary segment having a plurality of contacts mounted thereon forrotation with the rotary segment, with the rotary segment beingselectively movable into several operable positions, wherein in one ofthe positions of the rotary segment, the motor is driven in the reversedirection. The stationary segment is formed of an assembled lower sectorand upper sector, each sector mounting a plurality of stationarycontacts, said stationary contacts disposed in a common generallyhorizontal plane in the assembled condition.

18 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures se: 4s 6 56 FIG] FIGES INVENTOR. BENJAMINH. MATTHEWS ATTORNEYS PATENTEUSEP 12 I972 3.691.322

sum 3 OF 3 ATTO R NEYS 20 44 BENJAMIN H. MATTHEWS REVERSING SWITCHSPECIFICATION This invention relates in general to a compact, electricalswitch for a power tool, utensil or other electric motor driven device,and more particularly to a compact reversing switch for reversing thedirection of rotation of the electric motor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In US. Pat. No. 3,467,801 issued Sept. 16,1969 in the name of Benjamin H. Matthews and entitled R- eversing Switchthere is disclosed a reversing switch wherein a contact element thereofwith a plurality of contact points mounted thereon is slidably movablelinearly with respect to the body of the switch, for moving the contactelement into'several operative positions wherein the contact points ofthe contact element engage several of fixed contacts of the body in apredetermined pattern to conductibly bridge several of the switchcontacts, whereby the direction of current flow through the switch maybe reversed, depending upon the position of the contact element withrespect to the fixed contacts, and wherein a lever means is mounted onthe switch housing and coacts with the movable contact element formoving the contact element to one or the other of its operativepositions. Such switch is of relatively bulkly construction andnecessitates a relatively complex mechanism for moving the contactelement linearly with respect to the switch body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novel, highlycompact reversing .switch mechanism which may conveniently be used inthe environmental setting of the aforementioned switch mechanism of US.Pat. No. 3,467,801 as well as in other environmental settings, foraccomplishing reversal of the motor drive, and wherein a rotary switchsegment is provided for rotary movement of contact elements with respectto stationary contacts of the switch, for accomplishing reversal of theelectric power applied to the motor.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novelreversing switch for an electric motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric motor drivenmechanism such as for instance a power tool or utensil, having anoperating trigger and a reversing mechanism including a reversingswitch.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch of theaforementioned type which is compact in construction and economicallyconstructed with a minimum of parts, and capable of being mass produced.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rotary typereversing switch which is of compact construction for use in a portableelectric tool or utensil or other electric motor driven mechanism, forproviding for expeditiously reversing the drive motor of the tool ormechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel compactreversing switch which includes a relatively stationary contact holdersegment and a rotary contact holder segment with a plurality ofelectrical contacts being carried on the stationary segment and aplurality of electrical bridging contacts being carried on the rotarysegment and wherein the rotary segment can be selectively moved intoseveral operative positions wherein in one of the positions theassociated electric motor is driven in one direction and in anotherposition of the rotary segment the motor will be driven in a reverse oropposite direction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a switch of theaforementioned type wherein the contacts of the stationary segment aremounted on respective sectors of the stationary holder segment of theswitch, with each stationary contact having a contact face portion whichis oriented with those of the other stationary contacts in asubstantially common plane for slidable engagement by the bridgingcontacts of the rotary segment, for accomplishing reversal of the motordrive.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, sideelevational, partially broken, diagrammatic illustration of the handleportion of a portable electric tool embodying the present invention,with the portion of the tool illustrated shown in phantom lines, andwith the trigger and switch assembly embodying the present inventionbeing illustrated in full lines;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the trigger and switch assemblytaken from the opposite side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of the FIG. 2 triggerand switch assembly, with the lever for actuating the rotary segment ofthe reversing switch having been removed;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear end elevational view of the switch assemblytaken generally along the plane of line 44 of FIG. 6, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is an exploded elevational view of the reversing switch portionof the assembly of FIGS. 1 and FIG. 6 is a sectional view takengenerally along the plane of line 66 of FIG. 3 looking in the directionof the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a plan view taken generally along a plane of line 7-7 of FIG.5 looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating theorientation when assembled of the contact faces of the stationarycontacts of the relatively stationary segment of the switch disposed ina common plane, together with the gripping means for grippingly holdingline conductors in engaged relation with a respective of the stationarycontacts;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view taken generally along the plane of line 8-8of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing theundersides of the upper sector portions of the reversing switchstationary holder segment;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view taken generally along the plane of line 99 ofFIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating theupper side of the lower sector of the stationary holder segment of thereversing switch;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged bottom plan view taken generally along the planeof line 10--l0 of FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows, andillustrating the means for releaseably holding the rotary holder segmentin selected position;

FIG. 1 1 is a perspective view of one of the stationary electricalcontacts of the reversing switch;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of one of the movable electricalcontacts of the rotary segment of the switch;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the FIG. 12 contact;

FIG. 14 is a top plan broken view of the lever utilized to actuate therotary holder segment of the reversing switch;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line15-15 of FIG. 14 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken generallyalong line 16-16 of FIG. 14looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged diagrammatic illustration of one position of therotary holder segment of the reversing switch of the invention forcausing actuation of the electric motor in one rotary direction; theactuating lever for the switch is shown in the form of a single dot-dashline;

FIG. 18 is a view generally similar to FIG. 17 but illustrating therotary holder segment after it has been moved or rotated to anotherposition for accomplishing reversal of the electric motor drive;

FIG. 19 is a bottom plan view of the rotary holder segment;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 2020of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a reduced size, diagrammatic elevational illustration of apower tool handle having a modified arrangement for rotating thereversing switch; and

FIG. 22 is a plan diagrammatic illustration of the arrangement of FIG.21.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now again to thedrawings, FIG. 1 illustrates, for exemplary purposes, a power tool withwhich the present invention may be incorporated. The tool may be of aportable type which includes a depending pistol grip-like handle 10having a trigger-switch assembly 12 mounted thereon which is adapted tocontrol the operation of an electric motor (not shown) such as forinstance a universal electric motor, of the tool. The trigger 13 may beof the reciprocal spring loaded type and may coact with a speed controlswitch unit 14 to control the speed of the electric motor and in amanner known in the art. The switch assembly 12 may also include alocking mechanism including a reciprocal pin 17, for locking the trigger13in its full inward or maximum on position.

Speed control switch mechanism 14 is of known construction for varyingthe speed of an electric motor in accordance with the inward movement ofthe trigger from a completely outward or off" position to acompletelyonor inward position. The description of such speed controlswitch mechanism 14 will not be given here; it will be understoodhowever that the trigger-switch assembly 12, in the embodimentillustrated, includes the trigger 13, speed control switch 14, and areversing switch mechanism 18 with which the present invention isparticularly concerned, with such trigger-switch assembly being ofintegral compact construction for ready installation in a tool,appliance or the like. Electrical leads 2022 may extend from thetrigger-switch assembly 12 and form part of an electrical power in theconventional manner.

The reversing switch 18 may include a housing or wraparound 24 as it maybe called formed of any suitable material, such as, for instancemoldable plastic material with the housing being secured or moldedintegrally to the remainder of the trigger-switch assembly. Housing 24may have an opening 240 at its rearward end (FIG. 4) for slidableinsertion of the components of the reversing switch 18 therein, withsuch opening 24a providing for ready insertion of the reversing switchassembly.

The reversing switch may have an elongated lever 28 attached thereto(FIGS. 1, l4 and 15) such lever having a generally rectangular shapedopening 30 through an enlarged end thereof, and having a finger engagingportion 32 adjacent the opposite end thereof, with the finger engagingportion 32 being provided with serrations 34 on the underside thereof,for engagement by the finger of the operator for pivoting the lever in agenerally horizontal plane about a generally vertical axis X-X (FIG. 1).Opening 30 preferably has projections 36 (FIGS. 14 and 16) formed onopposite sides thereof for a purpose to be hereinafter described, withthe underside or lower periphery of the opening 32 (FIG. 16) beingchampered or beveled as at 38, for camming coaction with the upperportion 40 of the reversing switch 24 for coupling the lever 28 to therotary segment. As can be best seen in FIG. 20, upper portion 40 ofrotary segment 42 is preferably provided with lateral lips orprojections 44 thereon disposed below sloping cam surfaces 44 a, whichprojections 44 coact in snap fastening relation with the aforementionedprojections 36 in opening 30 of the lever, for positive coupling of thelever to the rotary segment 42. In the embodiment shown, the actuatinglever 28 projects rearwardly of the switch assembly for accessibilityfrom the rearward side of the tool, but such lever could project fromeither side thereof, or in a generally forward direction with respectthereto.

Rotary segment 42 includes upper head portion 46 (FIGS. 5, 91 and 20)and lower interlock portion 48 (FIG. 5) with the head portion 46 havingan opening 50 in the underside thereof adapted to receive in telescopedrelation the male embossment portion 52 formed on the interlock portion48. Portion 52 preferably has opposed wings 52a (FIG. 5) thereon adaptedto be received in complementary opposed recesses 53 on opposite sides ofopening 50 in head portion 46 (FIG. 19). Portion 48 of rotary segment 42also has a laterally extending arm 54 which is adapted for coaction witha projection 56 formed on the underside of insulator plate 58 (FIGS. 5and 10) thereby insuring that the arm can be moved only to the pivotedpositions illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 disposed on either side of thelongitudinal vertical center plane of the trigger-switch assembly. Itwill be seen that the cam projection 56 coacting with the arm 54 ofrotary segment 42 will insure the maintenance of the arm 54 in one ofits two angled positions, since swinging movement of the arm 28 isopposed by the centrally located projection 56 which is located on theaforementioned vertical center plane of the trigger-switch assembly, andas can be clearly seen in FIG. 10. A threaded fastener 60 is adapted toextend through a vertically projecting opening 62 in interlock portion48 and into fastened coaction with the upper head portion 46 of therotary segment 42, for positively securing interlock portion 48 to thehead portion 46 thereof and against vertical separation. In such securedposition, the arm 54 is adapted to be in generally closely spacedrelation with the underside of aforementioned insulating plate 58, andwith the cam projection 56 on plate 58 providing interference toswinging movement of the arm 54, and as aforediscussed.

Head portion 46 of rotary segment 42 is also provided on the undersidethereof (FIG. 19) with spaced generally arcuate shaped recesses 64(FIGS. 17 thru therein adapted to receive respective contacts 66, 66a(FIGS. 12, 13 and 20) which move with the rotary segment 42 into one ofthe other of two operative positions, for coupling the electric motor tothe source of power for driving the electric motor in one or the otherof its rotary directions. Contacts 66, 66a are generally relativelyloosely received in the associated recesses 64 and a spring 68 (FIGS. 5and 20) coacts in an opening 70 (FIG. 19) formed at each recess 64, forresiliently mounting the associated contact 66, 66a in its respectiverecess 64. The cylindrical-like openings 70 are formed generallycentrally of the respective contact recess 64 as can be best seen inFIG. 19. Each spring 68 bears against the upper end of the respectiveopening 70, and against the bridging portion 72 (FIG. 12) of therespective contact 66 or 66a, to urge the contact onwardly of therespective recess 64. As can be best seen in FIG. 12, the underside ofeach contact 66 or 66a provides spaced generally planar contact surfaces72a, 72a which are curved upwardly at their inner ends, as at 74, andterminate at the bridging portion 72. Such an arrangement aids inproviding for smooth movement of the respective contact during rotarysegment 42.

Reversing switch 18 also includes relatively stationary segment 76(FIGS. 4 and 6) disposed in slot 24a, with stationary segment 76comprising lower sector 76a and upper sector 76b (FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9).Lower sector 76a is of generally rectangular, block-like configurationand has a central opening 78 formed therein into which is adapted toextend the male embossment 52 of the lower interlock portion 48 ofrotary segment 42 in the assembled condition of the reversing switch.The upper or top surface of sector 76a, in the embodiment illustrated,is provided with a cross-like shaped projection 80 adjacent oppositeends thereof (FIG. 9) with each such projection 80 being adapted to bereceived generally snugly in a complementary respective cross-shapedrecess 82 formed on the underside of the upper sector 76b of thestationary segment 76 (FIGS. 5 and 8) for aligning the upper sector withrespect to the lower sector. As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 5, uppersector 76b, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a spaced pair ofsections defining therebetween a circular opening 81 rotatably receivingtherein head portion 46 of rotary segment 42.

Lower sector 76a has generally transversely extending verticallyextending grooves 84 (FIG. 5) formed therein which are adapted toreceive and mount a respective stationary, electrical contact member 86(FIGS. 5 and 11).

Each stationary contact 86 may be formed of copper and comprises a headportion 86a and an arm portion 86b disposed in a plane generallyperpendicular to the plane of the head portion 86a. Arm portion 86bincludes a sloping surface 88 (FIG. 11) on the edge thereof, for aidingin assembling the contact in its respective groove 84 in the lowersector 76a. As can be best seen in FIG. 5 the arm portion 86b extendsgenerally transversely of the lower sector body and with the headportion 86a being disposed on the upper surface of the lower sector 76a,the face 90 (FIG. 11) a of the contact presents a surface which isadapted for engagement by the electrical contacts on the rotatablesegment 42 of the reversing switch. As can be seen from FIG. 7, thefaces 90 of the contacts on the lower sector are disposed indiametrically opposed relation to one another. When the contacts 86 areassembled with the lower sector 76a, the faces 90 of the contacts aredisposed in parallel extending relationship to the upper surface of thesector block 76a, the arms 86b of the contacts 86 extend along theunderside of the sector block securely mounting the contacts on thelower sector block.

Lower sector block 76a has openings 92 (FIGS. 5 and 6) formed in a sidethereof which open into associated chambers 92a which receivespring-type grippers 94 (FIG. 5) for fastening associated electricalenergy conducting line L1 and L2 thereto, and to the respective of theelectrical contacts 86 on the lower sector 76a. In this connection, thewrap around housing 24 has complementary openings formed thereindisposed in confronting relationship to the openings 92 and throughwhich the bared ends of the conducting lines L1, L2 project (FIG. 2).

The upper sector members 76b are adapted for mounting orientation onlower sector 760 via aforementioned cross-shaped recesses 82 therein,for positioning the upper sector 76b with respect to the lower sector76a. Each of the members of upper sector 76b likewise has a transverselyextending slot formed therein which receive a respective electricalcontact 86 for mounting on the upper sector members 76b. In thisinstance, however, the reverse face 104 (FIG. 11) of the head portion86a of the respective contact is utilized as the contact engaging face,and the arm portion 86b thereof projects upwardly above such face, andas can be best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. Spring-typegrippers 94a coact with the respective contact on the upper sector forgripping a conducting line L3 or L4 and hold it in current conductingrelationship with the arm portion 86b of the respective contact, and ina manner generally similar to that aforedescribed in connection withgrippers 94 on the lower sector 760.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the lower sector block 76a on its uppersurface may be provided with slightly raised projections 106 which aidin spacing the head portions of the stationary contacts 86 on thestationary segment from one another and aid in positioning the contactson the segment assembly. When the electrical contacts 86 are assembledwith the upper and lower sectors and the latter are assembled with oneanother, the contacts faces 90 on the lower sector 76a and the contactfaces 104 of the contacts on the upper sector 76b are disposed insubstantially the same horizontal plane, for expeditious currenttransmitting engagement by the movable contacts 66 and 660 on the rotarysegment 42. Upper andlower sectors 76a, 76b of the stationary segmentand the rotary segment 42 may be formed of moldable plastic material.

As can be best seen from FIGS. 4 and 10, the wrap around housing 24,which may be formed from plastic material, includes a partition wall 108which has a cu tout 108a (FIG. formed therein in which the interlockportion 48 of the rotary segment 42 is disposed, for limiting the rotarymovement of the rotary segment. As will be apparent from FIG. 10, thearm 54 of the interlock portion 48 engaging the peripheral edges of thecutout 108a limits its swinging movement after it passes over thecentrally disposed cam abutment 56 on insulating plate 58.

Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, it will be seen that when the lever 28is in the position illustrated in FIG. 17 (which would be a swinging ofthe lever to the left hand side of the longitudinal vertical centerplane of the switch assembly when it is assembled on the tool asillustrated in FIG. 1) the electrical contact 66 on rotary segment 42couples or bridges faces 104 and 90 of the stationary contacts onrespectively the upper sector 76b and the lower sector 76a, while theother contact 66a on the rotary segment couples contact faces 90 and 104on respectively the lower sector 76a and the upper sector 76b. In otherwords, a circuit is completed between line L3 and L2 and between line L]and line L4 so that application of current say, for instance, to line Llwill be transmitted via line L4 to drive an electric motor in one rotarydirection. Swinging movement I of the rotary segment from the positionillustrated in FIG. 17 to the position illustrated in FIG. 18 will, ascan be seen, cause the contact 66 on rotary segment 42 to couple faces90 and 104 on respectively the lower and upper sectors while contact 66acouples faces 90 and 104 on respectively lower and upper sectors, thusreversing the current flow and causing the electric motor to be drivento the opposite rotary direction. In other words, line L2 will beconnected to line L4 and line L] connected to line L3. Accordingly, itwill be seen that merely pivoting of the lever from its position shown,for instance, in FIG. 17 to its position shown in FIG. 18 will reversethe rotary direction of the motor. The switch may be coupled into thecircuit of the electric motor in the general manner disclosed inaforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,801.

FIGS. 21 and 22 disclose a modified arrangement for rotating the rotarysegment 42 utilizing a push-plunger arrangement rather than a lever asillustrated in the first described embodiment. Upper section 40 of headportion 46 of the rotary segment 42 coacts with a yoke 112 which isadapted for pivotal movement in a generally horizontal plane about axisXX, and as a unit with the rotary segment. Plungers 114, 114a aremovably coupled as at 116 to the yoke 112, with such plunger beingadapted to extend rearwardly through openings 118 in the rear of toolhandle 10 for accessibility thereto. It will be seen that pushing one orthe other of plungers 114 or 114a will cause pivoting of the rotarysegment to one or the other of its operable positions to control thedirection of rotation of the motor.

From the foregoing discussion and the accompanying drawings it will beseen that the invention provides a novel reversing switch for mountingin an electrically powered tool, appliance, or the like, for selectivelyreversing the direction of rotation of an electric motor,

and wherein the switch comprises a compact switch body having arelatively stationary segment and a rotary segment with the stationarysegment having a plurality of stationary contacts mounted thereon andthe rotary segment having a plurality of contacts mounted thereon forrotation therewith. The rotary segment is movable'into several operativepositions wherein one of the positions of the rotary segment, the motoris driven in one direction and in another position, the motor is drivenin the reverse or opposite direction. The invention also provides areversing switch of the aforedescribed type which can be used inconjunction with a trigger assembly for conveniently reversing thedirection of motor movement in conjunction with actuation of the triggerfor controlling the electric motor.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the useof such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of thefeatures shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a compact electrical reversing switch comprising a relativelystationary holder means, said holder means including a plurality ofstationary electrical contacts, and a rotary holder having a pluralityof spaced electrical contacts mounted thereon, said rotary holderincluding means for rotating said .rotary holder with respect to saidstationary holder means into several operable positions wherein thecontacts of said rotary holder engage with the contacts of saidstationary holder means in a predetermined pattern whereby the directionof current flow to the switch may be reversed depending upon theposition of said rotary holder with respect to said contacts of saidstationary holder means, said stationary holder means comprising anassembled lower sector and upper sector, said upper sector mounting aplurality of said stationary contacts thereon and said lower sectorlikewise mounting a plurality of said stationary contacts thereon, eachof said stationary contacts having a generally planar contact face andin the assembled condition of said holder means the contact faces of allof said stationary contacts are disposed substantially in a commongenerally horizontal plane for relative sliding frictional engagementwith said rotary holder contacts, said contacts of said rotary holderbeing formed of sheet-like material and are generally verticallyoriented on edge and are arcuate in plan configuration, disposed arounda vertical axis generally perpendicular to said horizontal plane, eachof said rotary holder contacts able to bridge respective pairs of saidstationary contacts on said stationary holder means.

2. A switch in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said stationarycontacts comprises a head section having said face thereon adapted to beslidably engaged by said rotary holders contacts and an arm sectiondisposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to said head section,said arm section being adapted for abutting relation with an electricenergy conducting line, each of said sectors having means thereon formounting the respective stationary contacts thereon and for orientingthe head sections thereof in a substantially common plane in theassembled condition of said sectors.

3. A switch in accordance with claim 2 wherein said rotary holderincludes interlock means extending along the underside of saidstationary holder means for holding said rotary holder in predeterminedposition with respect to said stationary holder means and in positionswherein said contacts of said rotary holder are in bridging engagementwith respective pairs of said stationary contacts on said stationaryholder means.

4. A switch in accordance with claim 2 including a housing encompassingsaid sectors, said rotary holder projecting outwardly of said housingand providing said means for rotating said rotaryholder, and whereinsaid housing includes side openings therein through which lineconductors insertable into engaged relation with said arm sections forcoupling the respective stationary contact witha respective conductingline.

5. A switch in accordance with claim 4 including gripping means on saidsectors coacting with each of said stationary contacts and adapted forgrippingly holding a respective conducting line in engaged relation withthe arm section of a respective stationary contact.

67 A switch in accordance with claim 2 wherein said lower sectorcomprises an elongated block-like member having spaced recess meansformed therein defining said mounting means and receiving the respectivestationary contacts therein, said recess means communicatingwith boththe upper and the lower surface of said block-like member for extensionof said stationary contacts along both said surfaces.

7. A switch in accordance with claim 2 wherein said upper sectorcomprises a pair of separate portions laterally disposed with respect toone another and each having means on the underside thereof adapted fororienting coaction with means on said lower sector for orienting theupper sector portions with respect to the lower sector.

8. A switch in accordance with claim 1 including a housing for saidsectors for holding the latter in assembled relation, and means on saidrotary holder projecting outwardly of said housing and providing saidmeans for rotating said rotary holder with respect to said stationaryholder means.

9. A switch in accordance with claim 1 including means for releaseablyholding said rotary holder in preselected position with respect to saidstationary holder means.

10. A switch in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rotary holdercomprises a head portion and an interlock portion, one of said lastmentioned portions including a male section and the other of the lastmentioned portions including a female section for receiving the malesection therein, and means coacting between said last mentioned portionsreleaseably securing the latter together, said interlock portionincluding an arm projecting laterally of said head portion for swingablemovement upon rotary movement of said rotary holder, and cam abutmentmeans on said switch coacting with said arm for maintaining said rotaryholder in a selected one of a pair of predetermined positions.

11. A switch in accordance with claim 1 including means on said sectorsfor positioning said upper sector in predetermined relation with respectto said lower sector and vice versa, and wherein the last mentionedmeans comprises projection means on one of said sectors received inrecesses in the other of said sectors for orientin thes ctors with esect oone'nother.

l2. A switch m accord an e with claim 1 including control means coactingwith said switch for selectively varying the speed of a motor.

13. A switch in accordance with claim 1 including the combinationtherewith of a trigger assembly for a power tool or the like, saidtrigger assembly including a movable trigger for controlling theenergization of an electric motor upon movement of the trigger, andmeans for selectively actuating said rotary holder to move said rotaryholder from one of its operative positionsto another of its operativepositions and vice versa.

14. A switch in accordance with claim 13 wherein the last mentionedmeans comprises a lever having a portion coacting with said means onsaid rotary holder to rotatively move said rotary holder upon swingingmovement of said lever.

15. A switch in accordance with claim 14 wherein saidmeans for rotatingon said rotary holder is on the upper end thereof and including means onsaid lever portion coacting in snap fastening relation with said meansfor rotating on the upper end of said rotary holder, for coupling saidlever to said rotary holder, said lever projecting laterally from saidrotary holder and being swingable in a generally horizontal plane.

16. A switch in accordance with claim 1 including means coacting withsaid means on said rotary holder for rotating, for selectively actuatingsaid rotary holder from one of its operative positions to another of itsoperative positions and vice versa, the last mentioned means includingpusher means adapted for pushing actuation to cause said actuation ofsaid rotary holder.

17. A switch in accordance with claim 16 wherein said last mentionedmeans includes a yoke coupled to said rotary holder and adapted forpivotal movement in a generally horizontal plane, and said pusher meansinclude spaced plungers movably coupled to said yoke and projectinggenerally laterally therefrom, pushing actuation of one of said plungerscausing operation of said rotary holder to move from one of itsoperative positions to another of its operative positions.

18. A switch in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said contacts ofsaid rotary holder comprise spaced electrically conducting shoe portionsand an electrically conducting bridging portion connecting said shoeportions, and means resiliently mounting said rotary holder contacts onsaid rotary holder for adjusting movement thereof in generally verticaldirections.

1. In a compact electrical reversing switch comprising a relativelystationary holder means, said holder means including a plurality ofstationary electrical contacts, and a rotary holder having a pluralityof spaced electrical contacts mounted thereon, said rotary holderincluding means for rotating said rotary holder with respect to saidstationary holder means into several operable positions wherein thecontacts of said rotary holder engage with the contacts of saidstationary holder means in a predetermined pattern whereby the directionof current flow to the switch may be reversed depending upon theposition of said rotary holder with respect to said contacts of saidstationary holder means, said stationary holder means comprising anassembled lower sector and upper sector, said upper sector mounting aplurality of said stationary contacts thereon and said lower sectorlikewise mounting a plurality of said stationary contacts thereon, eachof said stationary contacts having a generally planar contact face andin the assembled condition of said holder means the contact faces of allof said stationary contacts are disposed substantially in a commongenerally horizontal plane for relative sliding frictional engagementwith said rotary holder contacts, said contacts of said rotary holderbeing formed of sheet-like material and are generally verticallyoriented on edge and are arcuate in plan configuration, disposed arounda vertical axis generally perpendiCular to said horizontal plane, eachof said rotary holder contacts able to bridge respective pairs of saidstationary contacts on said stationary holder means.
 2. A switch inaccordance with claim 1 wherein each of said stationary contactscomprises a head section having said face thereon adapted to be slidablyengaged by said rotary holder''s contacts and an arm section disposed ina plane substantially perpendicular to said head section, said armsection being adapted for abutting relation with an electric energyconducting line, each of said sectors having means thereon for mountingthe respective stationary contacts thereon and for orienting the headsections thereof in a substantially common plane in the assembledcondition of said sectors.
 3. A switch in accordance with claim 2wherein said rotary holder includes interlock means extending along theunderside of said stationary holder means for holding said rotary holderin predetermined position with respect to said stationary holder meansand in positions wherein said contacts of said rotary holder are inbridging engagement with respective pairs of said stationary contacts onsaid stationary holder means.
 4. A switch in accordance with claim 2including a housing encompassing said sectors, said rotary holderprojecting outwardly of said housing and providing said means forrotating said rotary holder, and wherein said housing includes sideopenings therein through which line conductors insertable into engagedrelation with said arm sections for coupling the respective stationarycontact with a respective conducting line.
 5. A switch in accordancewith claim 4 including gripping means on said sectors coacting with eachof said stationary contacts and adapted for grippingly holding arespective conducting line in engaged relation with the arm section of arespective stationary contact.
 6. A switch in accordance with claim 2wherein said lower sector comprises an elongated block-like memberhaving spaced recess means formed therein defining said mounting meansand receiving the respective stationary contacts therein, said recessmeans communicating with both the upper and the lower surface of saidblock-like member for extension of said stationary contacts along bothsaid surfaces.
 7. A switch in accordance with claim 2 wherein said uppersector comprises a pair of separate portions laterally disposed withrespect to one another and each having means on the underside thereofadapted for orienting coaction with means on said lower sector fororienting the upper sector portions with respect to the lower sector. 8.A switch in accordance with claim 1 including a housing for said sectorsfor holding the latter in assembled relation, and means on said rotaryholder projecting outwardly of said housing and providing said means forrotating said rotary holder with respect to said stationary holdermeans.
 9. A switch in accordance with claim 1 including means forreleaseably holding said rotary holder in preselected position withrespect to said stationary holder means.
 10. A switch in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said rotary holder comprises a head portion and aninterlock portion, one of said last mentioned portions including a malesection and the other of the last mentioned portions including a femalesection for receiving the male section therein, and means coactingbetween said last mentioned portions releaseably securing the lattertogether, said interlock portion including an arm projecting laterallyof said head portion for swingable movement upon rotary movement of saidrotary holder, and cam abutment means on said switch coacting with saidarm for maintaining said rotary holder in a selected one of a pair ofpredetermined positions.
 11. A switch in accordance with claim 1including means on said sectors for positioning said upper sector inpredetermined relation with respect to said lower sector and vice versa,and wherein the last mentioned means comprises projection means on oneoF said sectors received in recesses in the other of said sectors fororienting the sectors with respect to one another.
 12. A switch inaccordance with claim 1 including control means coacting with saidswitch for selectively varying the speed of a motor.
 13. A switch inaccordance with claim 1 including the combination therewith of a triggerassembly for a power tool or the like, said trigger assembly including amovable trigger for controlling the energization of an electric motorupon movement of the trigger, and means for selectively actuating saidrotary holder to move said rotary holder from one of its operativepositions to another of its operative positions and vice versa.
 14. Aswitch in accordance with claim 13 wherein the last mentioned meanscomprises a lever having a portion coacting with said means on saidrotary holder to rotatively move said rotary holder upon swingingmovement of said lever.
 15. A switch in accordance with claim 14 whereinsaid means for rotating on said rotary holder is on the upper endthereof and including means on said lever portion coacting in snapfastening relation with said means for rotating on the upper end of saidrotary holder, for coupling said lever to said rotary holder, said leverprojecting laterally from said rotary holder and being swingable in agenerally horizontal plane.
 16. A switch in accordance with claim 1including means coacting with said means on said rotary holder forrotating, for selectively actuating said rotary holder from one of itsoperative positions to another of its operative positions and viceversa, the last mentioned means including pusher means adapted forpushing actuation to cause said actuation of said rotary holder.
 17. Aswitch in accordance with claim 16 wherein said last mentioned meansincludes a yoke coupled to said rotary holder and adapted for pivotalmovement in a generally horizontal plane, and said pusher means includespaced plungers movably coupled to said yoke and projecting generallylaterally therefrom, pushing actuation of one of said plungers causingoperation of said rotary holder to move from one of its operativepositions to another of its operative positions.
 18. A switch inaccordance with claim 1 wherein each of said contacts of said rotaryholder comprise spaced electrically conducting shoe portions and anelectrically conducting bridging portion connecting said shoe portions,and means resiliently mounting said rotary holder contacts on saidrotary holder for adjusting movement thereof in generally verticaldirections.